Sabbatical leave, job burnout and turnover intentions among teachers

The present study was designed to ascertain the effect of a sabbatical year on teachers’ professional identity, feelings of job burnout and intentions to leave either their workplace or the profession. The sample was drawn from those members of the Israel primary school teacher population who were eligible to be on a sabbatical during the 1991-92 school year. The subjects filled out survey questionnaires before and after taking their sabbaticals. The findings indicate that a sabbatical in conjunction with a professional training programme had great impact on strengthening the teachers’ professional image, and reducing their feelings of job burnout and intentions to leave their workplace or profession.